Electronic device, system including electronic device and relay apparatus, and control method for the same

ABSTRACT

An electronic apparatus controls a peripheral device by using a relay apparatus. The electronic apparatus includes an interface connected to the peripheral device; a communication unit that performs communication with the relay apparatus; a receiver that receives a control signal for controlling the electronic apparatus; and a controller that, when the control signal is received, performs an operation based on the control signal, and controls the communication unit to transmit information about the performed operation and information about the peripheral device to the relay apparatus in order to control the peripheral device to perform an operation that corresponds to the performed operation.

This is a reissue application of U.S. Pat. No. 9,563,596, which wasfiled as U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/899,976 on May 22, 2013 andissued on Feb. 7, 2017, and which claims priority from Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2012-0054321, filed on May 22, 2012 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No.2012-0054321 filed May 22, 2012 in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Methods and apparatuses consistent with the exemplary embodiments relateto an electronic apparatus (e.g., an electronic device such as a digitalTV, a personal computer (PC), a notebook computer, etc.), a systemincluding an electronic apparatus and a relay apparatus, and a controlmethod thereof. More particularly, the exemplary embodiments relate toan electronic apparatus that can control peripheral devices by using arelay apparatus, a system including the electronic apparatus and relayapparatus, and a control method thereof

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a remote controller is an apparatus a device that remotelycontrols electronic apparatuses devices such as televisions (TVs),Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) apparatuses devices, video apparatusesdevices, audio apparatuses devices, air conditioners, etc. In order toidentify electronic apparatuses devices of a specific manufacturer andelectronic apparatuses devices of other manufacturers, the remotecontroller emits control codes that are set differently from each of theelectronic apparatuses devices in the form of an infrared signal.

However, since, if many different types of electronic apparatusesdevices are used in a home, a plurality of remote controllers may haveto be used to control these different devices. Accordingly, it may bedifficult for the users to manage the plurality of remote controllers.Additionally, it may be cumbersome to change the remote controllerswhenever the users want to select and use different electronicapparatuses devices.

Particularly, although a television and a set-top box are used togetherfor broadcast services, separate remote controllers are used to turn onor off the television and set-top box; therefore, the users feeluncomfortable.

Accordingly, there is a need to seek ways that can to control aplurality of electronic apparatuses at the same time by easiermanipulation.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been developed in order to overcome the abovedrawbacks and other problems associated with the related artarrangement. An aspect of the present disclosure provides an electronicapparatus that can control peripheral devices connected to theelectronic apparatus by using a relay apparatus, a system including theelectronic apparatus and relay apparatus, and a control method thereof.

The above aspect and/or other features of the present disclosure cansubstantially be achieved by providing an electronic apparatus thatcontrols at least one peripheral device by using a relay apparatus, theelectronic apparatus may include an interface connected to the at leastone peripheral device; a communication unit that performs communicationwith the relay apparatus; a receiver that receives a control signal forcontrolling the electronic apparatus; and a controller that, when thecontrol signal is received, performs an operation depending on thecontrol signal, and controls the communication unit to transmitinformation about the performed operation and information about the atleast one peripheral device to the relay apparatus in order to controlthe at least one peripheral device to perform an operation thatcorresponds to the operation performed by the electronic apparatus.

The interface may include at least one connector that is connected tothe at least one peripheral device.

The electronic apparatus may include a storage that stores theinformation about the peripheral device matched with the at least oneconnector, wherein, when the control signal is received, the controllercontrols to transmit the transmission of the information about theperipheral device matched with the connector to which the peripheraldevice is connected to the relay apparatus.

The information about the peripheral device may include at least one ofa brand name, a model name, and a product serial number of theperipheral device.

The control signal may include a power off command for turning off powerof the electronic apparatus, and the controller may turn off the powerof the electronic apparatus depending on the power off command, and maycontrol to transmit the transmission of information about the power offoperation that was performed in the electronic apparatus to the relayapparatus in order to turn off the power of the peripheral devicethrough the relay apparatus.

The relay apparatus may generate a control signal for turning off thepower of the peripheral device based on the information about theperipheral device and the information about the power off operation, andthus, the relay apparatus may transmit the control signal to theperipheral device.

The control signal may include an external input switch command foroutputting an external input signal being received from the peripheraldevice in the electronic apparatus, and the controller may control tooutput the output of the external input signal being received from theperipheral device depending on the external input switch command, andmay control to transmit the transmission of information about theexternal input switch that was performed in the electronic apparatus tothe relay apparatus in order to turn on the power of the peripheraldevice through the relay apparatus.

The relay apparatus may generate a control signal for turning on thepower of the peripheral device based on the information about theperipheral device and the information about the external input switch,and thus, the relay apparatus may transmit the control signal to theperipheral device.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a control methodof an electronic apparatus that controls at least one peripheral deviceby using a relay apparatus, the control method may include receiving acontrol signal for controlling the electronic apparatus; after thecontrol signal is received, performing an operation depending on thecontrol signal; and transmitting information about the performedoperation and information about the at least one peripheral device tothe relay apparatus in order to control the at least one peripheraldevice to perform an operation that corresponds to the operationperformed by the electronic apparatus.

The controller may include at least one connector that is connected tothe at least one peripheral device.

The control method may include storing information about the at leastone peripheral device matched with the at least one connector, wherein,when the control signal is received, the transmitting information mayinclude determining a connector to which the peripheral device isconnected; and transmitting the information about the peripheral devicematched with the connector to which the peripheral device is connectedto the relay apparatus.

The information about the peripheral device may include at least one ofa brand name, a model name, and a product serial number of theperipheral device.

The control signal may include a power off command for turning off thepower of the electronic apparatus, the performing an operation mayinclude turning off the power of the electronic apparatus depending onthe power off command, and the transmitting information may includetransmitting information about the power off operation that wasperformed in the electronic apparatus to the relay apparatus in order toturn off the power of the peripheral device through the relay apparatus.

The relay apparatus may generate a control signal for turning off thepower of the peripheral device based on the information about theperipheral device and the information about the power off operation, andthus, the relay apparatus may transmit the control signal to theperipheral device.

The control signal may include an external input switch command fordisplaying an external input signal being received from the peripheraldevice in the electronic apparatus, the performing operation may includeoutputting the external input signal being input from the peripheraldevice depending on the external input switch command, and thetransmitting information may include transmitting information about theexternal input switch that was performed in the electronic apparatus tothe relay apparatus in order to turn on the power of the peripheraldevice through the relay apparatus.

The relay apparatus may generate a control signal for turning on thepower of the peripheral device based on the information about theperipheral device and the information about the external input switch,and thus, the relay apparatus may transmit the control signal to theperipheral device.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a system mayinclude a relay apparatus; and an electronic apparatus that controls aperipheral device by using the relay apparatus, wherein, when a controlsignal for controlling the electronic apparatus is received, theelectronic apparatus performs an operation depending on the controlsignal, and transmits information about the performed operation andinformation about the peripheral device to the relay apparatus in orderto control the peripheral device to perform an operation thatcorresponds to the operation performed by the electronic apparatus, andthe relay apparatus generates a control signal for controlling anoperation of the peripheral device based on the information about theperformed operation and the information about the peripheral device, andthus, transmits the control signal to the peripheral device.

When a control signal for turning off power of the electronic apparatusis received, the electronic apparatus may turn off its own power, andtransmit information about the power off operation that was performed inthe electronic apparatus to the relay apparatus, and the relay apparatusmay generate a control signal for turning off power of the peripheraldevice based on the information about the peripheral device, and thus,may transmit the control signal to the peripheral device.

With an electronic apparatus and a system according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, since users can at the same timeoperate the electronic apparatus and a peripheral device more easily,the convenience of the users can be improved.

Other features of the present disclosure will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with theannexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the present disclosure will becomeapparent and more readily appreciated from the following description ofthe exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a system including a relay apparatus andan electronic apparatus that controls peripheral devices by using therelay apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining configuration of an electronicapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining detailed configuration of anelectronic apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining configuration of a relayapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a method for setting each of peripheraldevices by each of connectors in an electronic apparatus according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a control method of an electronicapparatus that controls peripheral devices by using a relay apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood torefer to like parts, components and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosurewill be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The matters defined herein, such as a detailed construction and elementsthereof, are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of thisdescription. Thus, it is apparent that the exemplary embodiments may becarried out without those defined matters. Also, well-known functions orconstructions are omitted to provide a clear and concise description ofexemplary embodiments. Further, dimensions of various elements in theaccompanying drawings may be arbitrarily increased or decreased toassist in a comprehensive understanding.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a system including a relay apparatus andan electronic apparatus that controls peripheral devices using the relayapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, the system includes a remote controlapparatus 10, an electronic apparatus 100, a relay apparatus 200, and aperipheral device 300.

When a control signal for controlling the electronic apparatus 100 isreceived from the remote control apparatus 10, the electronic apparatus100 may operate depending on the received control signal.

For example, when a control code corresponding to “a power off command”is received from the remote control apparatus 10, the electronicapparatus 100 can turn off the power, and when a control codecorresponding to “a TV channel changing command” is received, theelectronic apparatus 100 can change the channel. However, operations ofthe electronic apparatus 100 are not limited by those. Therefore, theelectronic apparatus 100 can perform a variety of operations dependingon control signals received from the remote control apparatus 10.

On the other hand, the electronic apparatus 100 may be implemented as adigital TV, a personal computer (PC), a notebook computer, etc. However,the electronic apparatus 100 is not limited by those. Therefore, theelectronic apparatus 100 may be implemented as various types ofelectronic apparatuses that can be operated depending on control signalsreceived from the remote control apparatus 10.

The electronic apparatus 100 may receive control signals from the remotecontrol apparatus 10 through various communication ways. For example,the electronic apparatus 100 may receive the control signal in the formof infrared signals from the remote control apparatus 10, or may performcommunication with the remote control apparatus 10 depending on avariety of communication ways such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc. to receivethe control signal.

Also, the electronic apparatus 100 may control operations of theperipheral device 300 by using the relay apparatus 200. In detail, theelectronic apparatus 100 may control the operation of the peripheraldevice 300 to perform operations that correspond to the operationsperformed in the electronic apparatus 100.

For example, when the power of the electronic apparatus 100 is turnedoff, the electronic apparatus 100 may turn off the power of theperipheral device 300 through the relay apparatus 200. As anotherexample, when the electronic apparatus 100 wants to output a signal thatis to be received from the peripheral device 300, the electronicapparatus 100 may turn on the power of the peripheral device 300 throughthe relay apparatus 200.

The relay apparatus 200 may generate control signals for controlling theperipheral device 300 based on information received from the electronicapparatus 100.

In detail, based on operation information received from the electronicapparatus 100, and a brand name, a model name, and a product serialnumber of the peripheral device 300 that the electronic apparatus 100wants to control, the relay apparatus 200 may generate a control signalfor controlling the peripheral device 300 to perform operations thatcorrespond to the operations performed in the electronic apparatus 100.For this, the relay apparatus 200 may create and store a database ofcontrol codes that can control the peripheral device 300 according tovarious brand names, model names, or product serial numbers of theperipheral device 300.

For example, when information that the power of the electronic apparatus100 is turned off and model name information of the peripheral device300 that it wants to control are received, the relay apparatus 200 maydetect a control code that can turn off the power of the peripheraldevice 300 depending on the model name of the peripheral device 300 fromthe database.

As another example, when the relay apparatus 200 receives informationthat the electronic apparatus 100 outputs an external input signaloutput from the peripheral device 300 and the model name information ofthe peripheral device 300, the relay apparatus 200 may detect a controlcode that can turn on the power of the peripheral device 300 dependingon the model name of the peripheral device 300 from the database.

The relay apparatus 200 may transmit the generated control signal to theperipheral device 300. For example, the relay apparatus 200 may transmitthe control code that is detected based on information about theoperation performed in the electronic apparatus 100 and the peripheraldevice 300 to the peripheral device 300 in a form of an infrared signal.However, the relay apparatus 200 is not limited by that. Therefore, therelay apparatus 200 may transmit the control signal to the peripheraldevice 300 by a variety of wireless communication ways such asBluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.

The peripheral device 300 may perform an operation depending on thecontrol signal received from the relay apparatus 200. In detail, theperipheral device 300 has a infrared receiver (not illustrated) so as toreceive the control codes in the form of infrared, and may performvarious operations, such as power on, power off, etc., based on thereceived control codes. However, the peripheral device 300 is notlimited by that. Therefore, the peripheral device 300 may have aBluetooth communication module (not illustrated), a Wi-Fi communicationmodule (not illustrated), etc. so as to perform communications with therelay apparatus 200, thereby receiving the control codes.

On the other hand, the peripheral device 300 may be implemented as aset-top-box (STB), a home theater system (HTS), a Blu-ray disc player(BDP), a DVD player (DVDP), a HDD recorder (HDDR), a portable multimediaplayer (PMP), etc.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for illustrating the configuration of anelectronic apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic apparatus 100 mayinclude an interface 110, a communication unit 120, a receiver 130, anda controller 140.

The interface 110 is connected to the peripheral device. In detail, theinterface 110 may include at least one connector to be connected to atleast one peripheral device. The connector may be implemented as aD-sub, a DVI, a component, an S-video, etc., and may receive a videosignal, an audio signal, etc. from the peripheral device.

The communication unit 120 performs communication with the relayapparatus 200. In detail, the communication unit 120 may performcommunication with the relay apparatus through a variety of wirelesscommunication ways. For this, the communication unit 120 may include aninfrared transmission unit, a Bluetooth communication module, a Wi-Ficommunication module, etc.

The receiver 130 receives control signals for controlling the electronicapparatus 100. In detail, the receiver 130 may receive the controlsignals for controlling a variety of operations that can be performed inthe electronic apparatus 100 such as a power off command, a power oncommand, an external input switch command, a volume adjust command, achannel change command, etc. For these, the receiver 130 may include aninfrared receiver, a Bluetooth communication module, a Wi-Ficommunication module, etc.

The controller 140 controls overall operations of the electronicapparatus 100. Particularly, when the control signal is received, thecontroller 140 may perform an operation depending on the control signaland may control the communication unit 120 to transmit information aboutthe performed operation and information about the peripheral device tothe relay apparatus in order to control the peripheral device to performoperations that correspond to the operations performed by the electronicapparatus.

Here, the information about the operations performed in the electronicapparatus 100 may include information about a variety of operations,such as power on, power off, external input switch, etc., that wereperformed in the electronic apparatus 100 depending on the controlsignals. The information about the peripheral device may include atleast one of a brand name, a model name, and a product serial number ofthe peripheral device.

In detail, if the control signal includes a power off command forturning off the power of the electronic apparatus, the controller 140turns off the power of the electronic apparatus 100 depending on thepower off command, and, in order to turn off the power of the peripheraldevice through the relay apparatus, the controller 140 may control totransmit the transmission of information about the power off operationperformed in the electronic apparatus to the relay apparatus.

In other words, if a control code corresponding to the power off commandis received from the remote control apparatus, the controller 140 shutsoff an external power being supplied to each configuration of theelectronic apparatus 100, thereby turning off the power of theelectronic apparatus 100. Then, the controller 140 may control totransmit the transmission of information indicating that the power ofthe electronic apparatus 100 was turned off, and at least one of a brandname, a model name, and a product serial number of the peripheral deviceconnected to a connector through which an external input signal is beingreceived to the relay apparatus. Here, the external input signal is asignal that is input from the peripheral device connected to theelectronic apparatus 100, and may include at least one of a video signaland an audio signal.

Also, if the control signal includes an external input switch commandfor outputting a signal being received from the peripheral device, thecontroller 140 may control to output the output of the external inputsignal being input from the peripheral device depending on the externalinput switch command, and to transmit the transmission of informationabout the external input switch that was performed in the electronicapparatus to the relay apparatus in order to turn on the power of theperipheral device through the relay apparatus.

In other words, if a control code corresponding to the external inputswitch command is received from the remote control apparatus, thecontroller 140 may output the external input signal being received fromthe peripheral device. Then, the controller 140 may control to transmitthe transmission of information that the external input switch wasperformed and at least one of a brand name, a model name, and a productserial number of the peripheral device connected to the connector thatwas selected depending on the external input switch command to the relayapparatus.

On the other hand, the electronic apparatus 100 may have previouslystored information about each of peripheral devices matched with each ofthe connectors. In other words, the electronic apparatus 100 maypreviously match and store the brand name, model name, and productserial number of each of the peripheral devices connected to theconnectors with each of the connectors.

In other words, when turning off the power after receiving the power offcommand, the controller 140 may determine through which connector theexternal input signal is being input, may detect the information aboutthe peripheral device that is matched with the connector through whichthe external input signal is being input and is previously stored, andmay control to transmit the transmission of the information to the relayapparatus. Also, when the external input switch command is received, thecontroller 140 may determine which connector is selected depending onthe external input switch command, may detect the information about theperipheral device that is matched with the connector and is previouslystored, and may control to transmit the transmission of the informationto the relay apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of anelectronic apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Particularly, FIG. 3 is a view for explaining theconfiguration of an electronic apparatus 100 that is implemented as abroadcast receiving apparatus, and includes an interface 110, acommunication unit 120, a receiver 130, a controller 140, a storage 150,an input device 160, a broadcast receiver 170, a signal processor 180,and an output device 190. In the description of FIG. 3, since componentshaving the same reference numbers of those of FIG. 2 perform the samefunctions, detailed duplicate description thereof will be omitted.

The storage 150 is a storage medium in which a variety of programsrequired for operating the electronic apparatus 100 are stored, and maybe implemented as a memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), etc.

Particularly, the storage 150 may store the information about each ofthe peripheral devices matched with each of the connectors. In otherwords, the storage 150 may previously match at least one of a brandname, a model name, and a product serial number of the peripheral deviceconnected to each of the connectors with each of the connectors, andthus, may store the result therein. For example, it is assumed that aBDP is connected to a D-sub connector provided in the electronicapparatus 100, and a DVDP is connected to a DVI connector thereof. Inthis case, the storage 150 matches at least one of a brand name, a modelname, and a product serial number of the BDP with the D-sub connector,and thus, stores the result therein. Also, the storage 150 matches atleast one of a brand name, a model name, and a product serial number ofthe DVDP with the DVI connector, and thus, stores the result therein.

On the other hand, when a control signal is received, the controller 140may control to transmit the transmission of the information about theperipheral device matched with the connector connected to the peripheraldevice to the relay apparatus.

For example, when the power off command is received, the controller 140may control to transmit the transmission of at least one of the brandname, model name, and product serial number of the peripheral deviceconnected to the connector through which the external input signal isbeing input to the relay apparatus. As another example, when theexternal input switch command is received, the controller 140 maycontrol to transmit the transmission of at least one of the brand name,model name, and product serial number of the peripheral device connectedto the connector which is selected depending on the external inputswitch command to the relay apparatus.

The input device 160 is an input member that receives a variety of useroperations and then transfers them to the controller 140, and may beimplemented as an input panel. Here, the input panel may be formed as atouch pad, a key pad having various function keys, number keys, specialkeys, character keys, etc., or a touch screen, but is not limitedthereto.

Particularly, the input device 160 may receive information about theperipheral devices. In other words, a user can input the brand name, themodel name, and the product serial number of the peripheral deviceconnected to each of the connectors through the key pad or a virtualkeyboard provided on the touch screen.

In addition, the information about the peripheral devices may be inputthrough the receiver 130. If the user selects a number or a characterthrough a key pad or a touch screen provided in the remote controlapparatus, the remote control apparatus transmits a control codecorresponding to the selected number or character to the electronicapparatus 100. Accordingly, the receiver 130 may receive the brand name,the model name, and the product serial number of the peripheral deviceconnected to each of the connectors.

The broadcast receiver 170 receives and demodulates broadcast signalsfrom broadcast stations or satellites. For this, the broadcast receiver170 may include configurations such as a tuner (not illustrated), ademodulator (not illustrated), an equalizer (not illustrated), etc.

The signal processor 180 performs signal processing on the broadcastsignals received through the broadcast receiver 170. In detail, thesignal processor 180 separates the broadcast signal that is receivedthrough the broadcast receiver 170 into audio signals and video signals,and performs signal processing of video decoding, video scaling, audiodecoding, etc. with respect to the video and audio signals, therebyprocessing them in the form that can be output in the output device 190.

Similarly, the signal processor 180 performs signal processing withrespect to the external input signal received through the interface 110.In other words, the signal processor 180 performs signal processing ofvideo decoding, video scaling, audio decoding, etc. with respect to thevideo and audio signals that are received through the interface 110,thereby processing them in the form that can be output in the outputdevice 190.

The output device 190 includes a display (not illustrated) and a speaker(not illustrated), and may output the broadcast signal and the externalinput signal. However, the output device is not limited thereto.

In detail, the display (not illustrated) displays the signal processedvideo signal. For this, the display (not illustrated) may be implementedas a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting display(OLED), a plasma display panel (PDP), etc.

On the other hand, the speaker (not illustrated) outputs the signalprocessed audio signals. In detail, the speaker (not illustrated) mayamplify the audio signal transmitted from the signal processor 180, andthus, may provide it to the user. An exemplary embodiment in which theaudio signal is output through the speaker (not illustrated) isexplained in the above-description; however, the output device 190 mayinclude an output port, etc. such as a jack, etc.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a relayapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Referring to FIG. 4, the relay apparatus 200 includes acommunication unit 210, a storage 220, a transmitter 230, and acontroller 240. Particularly, the relay apparatus 200 may be implementedas an infrared (IR) blaster interfacing between the electronic apparatusand the peripheral devices.

The communication unit 210 performs communication with the electronicapparatus according to a variety of wireless communication ways. Forthis, the communication unit 210 may include an infrared receiver, aBluetooth communication module, a Wi-Fi communication module, etc.

In detail, the communication unit 210 may receive the information aboutthe operation that was performed in the electronic apparatus and theinformation about the peripheral devices from the electronic apparatus.Here, the information about the operation that was performed in theelectronic apparatus means information indicating the operation that wasperformed in the electronic apparatus according to functions such aspower off, power on, external input switch, etc. The information aboutthe peripheral device may include at least one of the brand name, themodel name, and the product serial number of the peripheral device.

The storage 220 is a storage medium in which a variety of programsrequired for operating the relay apparatus 200 are stored, and may beimplemented as a memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), etc.

Particularly, the storage 220 may have stored control codes that cancontrol each of the peripheral devices based on information about theperipheral devices. In detail, the storage 220 may create and store adatabase of control codes that can control the peripheral device by eachof a variety of brand names, model names, and product serial numbers ofthe peripheral devices.

The transmitter 230 transmits the control signal to control theperipheral device to the peripheral device. In detail, the transmitter230 has an infrared transmitter, and may transmit the control code forcontrolling the peripheral device to the peripheral device in the formof infrared signals. However, the transmitter 230 is not limited bythis. Therefore, the transmitter 230 may have the Bluetoothcommunication module and the Wi-Fi communication module, and maytransmit the control signal to the peripheral device according to eachof the communication ways.

The controller 240 controls overall operations of the relay apparatus200. Particularly, when information about the operation that wasperformed in the electronic apparatus and information about theperipheral device are received, the controller 240 may generate acontrol signal for controlling the peripheral device based on thereceived information, and may transmit the generated control signal tothe peripheral device.

In detail, the controller 240 may generate the control signal forcontrolling the peripheral device to perform an operation thatcorresponds to the operation that was performed in the electronicapparatus by using at least one of the brand name, model name, andproduct serial number of the peripheral device.

For example, based on the information about the peripheral device andthe power off operation information, the controller 240 generates acontrol signal to turn off the power of the peripheral device, and thus,transmits the control signal to the peripheral device. In other words,when the power of the electronic apparatus is turned off, the controller240 may detect a control code for turning off the power of thecorresponding peripheral device from the storage 220 based on thereceived at least one of brand name, model name, and product serialnumber of the peripheral device.

Also, the controller 240 may generate a control signal to turn on thepower of the peripheral device based on the information about theperipheral device and the external input switch information, and thus,may transmit the control signal to the peripheral device. In otherwords, when the external input switch signal is input from theelectronic apparatus, the controller 240 may detect a control code forturning on the power of the corresponding peripheral device from thestorage 220 based on the received at least one of the brand name, modelname, and product serial number of the peripheral device.

The controller 240 may control the transmitter 230 to transmit thecontrol code detected from the storage 220 to the peripheral device byusing a variety of communication ways. In detail, the controller 240 maycontrol an infrared transmitter (not illustrated) to transmit thecontrol code to the peripheral device in the infrared way. However, thecontroller 240 is not limited by that; therefore, the controller 240 mayhave a Bluetooth communication module, a Wi-Fi communication module,etc., and may transmit the control code to the peripheral deviceaccording to a variety of wireless communication ways.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a method for setting each of theconnected peripheral devices by each of the connectors in an electronicapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure. For the convenience of description, FIG. 3 will be referredto with FIG. 5.

When a user operation for inputting information about the peripheraldevice is input through the input device 160, the controller 140displays a list of the connectors provided in the electronic apparatus100 on the output device 190. Then, after one connector of the list isselected by the user, the controller 140 displays a user interface (UI)window in which information about a peripheral device that is connectedto, or will be connected to, the selected connector can be input on theoutput device 190. Then, after the input of the information about theperipheral device is completed, the controller 140 may match theinformation about each of the peripheral devices with each of theconnectors, and thus, may store the result in the storage 150.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, after the user operation forinputting information about the peripheral device is input, a list 410of a D-sub, a DVI, a component, and an S-Video provided in theelectronic apparatus 400 may be displayed. If the DVI is selected, auser interface window 420 in which a brand name, a model name and aproduct serial number of a peripheral device that is connected to orwill be connected to the DVI can be input is displayed.

After that, if the user inputs all information about the peripheraldevice such as “SAMSUNG”, “DVD-D530”, and “AX5112K” and selects a“confirm” button, the electronic apparatus 400 displays a completionmessage 430, and matches the input information about the peripheraldevice with the DVI, thereby storing the result.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a control method of an electronicapparatus that controls peripheral devices by using a relay apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

First, a control signal for controlling an electronic apparatus isreceived (operation S610).

After that, after the control signal is received, the electronicapparatus performs an operation depending on the control signal(operation S620), and transmits information about the performedoperation and information about a peripheral device to a relay apparatusin order to control the peripheral device to perform an operation thatbe corresponds to the operation performed by the electronic apparatus(operation S630). Here, the information about the peripheral device mayinclude at least one of a brand name, a model name, and a product serialnumber of the peripheral device.

On the other hand, the electronic apparatus according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one connectorto be connected to at least one peripheral device. In this case, theelectronic apparatus may store information about the peripheral devicematched by the connector, and, if a control signal is received, maydetermine to which connector the peripheral device is connected, and maytransmit the information about the peripheral device matched with theconnector to which the peripheral device is connected to the relayapparatus.

In detail, if the control signal includes a power off command forturning off the power of the electronic apparatus, the electronicapparatus may turn off its own power depending on the power off command,and may transmit information about the power off operation that wasperformed in the electronic apparatus to the relay apparatus in order toturn off the power of the peripheral device through the relay apparatus.Accordingly, the relay apparatus may generate a control signal forturning off the power of the peripheral device based on the informationabout the peripheral device and the information about the power offoperation, and thus, may transmit the control signal to the peripheraldevice.

Also, if the control signal includes an external input switch commandfor displaying an external input signal being received from theperipheral device on the electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatusmay output the external input signal being input from the peripheraldevice depending on the external input switch command, and may transmitinformation about the external input switch that was performed in theelectronic apparatus to the relay apparatus in order to turn on thepower of the peripheral device through the relay apparatus. Accordingly,the relay apparatus may generate a control signal for turning on thepower of the peripheral device based on the information about theperipheral device and the information about the external input switch,and thus, may transmit the control signal to the peripheral device.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure asdescribed above, the electronic apparatus performs an operationcorresponding to the received control signal, and transmits informationabout the performed operation and information about the peripheraldevice to the relay apparatus. Then, the relay apparatus generates acontrol signal for controlling the peripheral device based on theinformation about the performed operation and the information about theperipheral device, and thus, transmits the control signal to theperipheral device. Accordingly, since the user can control theperipheral device by only one operation for controlling the electronicapparatus, user convenience may be improved.

Also, a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which a program tosequentially perform a control method of an electronic apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is storedmay be provided.

The non-transitory computer-readable medium means not a medium to storedata for a short moment like a register, a cache, a memory, etc., but amedium that can store data in a semi-permanent state, and can be read bydevices. Specifically, the various applications or programs as describedabove may be stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium, suchas a CD, a DVD, a hard disc, a Blu-ray disc, an USB, a memory card, aROM, etc.

Also, a bus is not illustrated in the block diagram illustrating thedisplay apparatus. However, communication between components of thedisplay apparatus may be performed through the bus. In addition, thedisplay apparatus may include a processor, such as a central processingunit (CPU), a microprocessor, etc., that performs a variety of steps asdescribed above.

While the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have beendescribed, additional variations and modifications of the exemplaryembodiments may occur to those skilled in the art once they learn of thebasic inventive concepts. Therefore, it is intended that the appendedclaims shall be construed to include both the above exemplaryembodiments and all such variations and modifications that fall withinthe spirit and scope of the inventive concepts.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic apparatus that controls at leastone A system for controlling a plurality of peripheral device by using arelay apparatus devices, the electronic apparatus system comprising: aninterface which is connected to a plurality of peripheral devices; astorage which stores information regarding the plurality of peripheraldevices, a communication unit which performs communication with therelay apparatus; a receiver which receives a control signal forcontrolling the electronic apparatus; and a relay apparatus; and acontroller which, when thean electronic device that stores informationregarding the plurality of peripheral devices connected to an interfaceof the electronic device, and upon receiving a first control signal isreceived,:performs an operation based on the control signal, determinesthe at least one peripheral device, to be controlled according to theperformed operation, among the plurality of peripheral devices based onthe information regarding the plurality of peripheral devices, andcontrols the communication unit to transmit information regarding theperformed operation and information regarding the at least oneperipheral device to the relay apparatusdetermines which peripheraldevice is selected from the plurality of peripheral devices, based onthe first control signal and the information regarding the selectedperipheral device, and provides information regarding the first controlsignal and the information regarding the selected peripheral device tothe relay apparatus, wherein the relay apparatus: determines anoperation to be performed by the at least one peripheral deviceaccording to the performed operation based on the information regardingthe performed operation, generates a control signal for controlling theat least one peripheral device to perform the determined operation basedon the information regarding the at least one peripheral device, andtransmits the generated control signal to the at least one peripheraldevice determines an operation to be performed by the selectedperipheral device, based on information regarding an operation of theelectronic device according to the first control signal, generates asecond control signal that controls the selected peripheral device basedon the information regarding the selected peripheral device and theinformation regarding the first control signal, and transmits the secondcontrol signal to the selected peripheral device.
 2. The electronicapparatus system of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises at leastone connector electronic device comprises a plurality of connectors thatis are connected to the at least one plurality of peripheral devicedevices.
 3. The electronic apparatus system of claim 2, furthercomprising: a storage whichwherein the electronic device stores theinformation regarding the at least one plurality of peripheral devicematched with the at least one connector devices connected to a pluralityof connectors, wherein, when upon receiving the first control signal isreceived, the controller controls to transmit electronic device providesthe information regarding the at least one on the selected peripheraldevice matched with the connected to a connector to which the at leastone by which the selected peripheral device is connected to the relayapparatus.
 4. The electronic apparatus system of claim 1, wherein theinformation regarding the at least one on the selected peripheral devicecomprises at least one of a brand name, a model name, and a productserial number of the at least one selected peripheral device.
 5. Theelectronic apparatus system of claim 1, wherein the first control signalcomprises a power off command for turning off power of the electronicapparatus device, and the controller turns off the power of theelectronic apparatus depending on the power off command, and controls totransmit electronic device transmits, to the relay apparatus,information regarding the indicating that the electronic device is toperform a power off operation that was performed in the electronicapparatus to the relay apparatus in response to the power off command inorder to turn off the power of the at least one selected peripheraldevice through the relay apparatus.
 6. The electronic apparatus systemof claim 5, wherein the relay apparatus generates a the second controlsignal for that controls turning off the power of the at least oneselected peripheral device based on the information regarding on theplurality of peripheral devices and the information regarding indicatingthat the electronic device is to perform the power off operation, andtransmits the second control signal to the at least one selectedperipheral device.
 7. The electronic apparatus system of claim 1,wherein the first control signal comprises an external input switchcommand for outputting an external input signal received from the atleast one selected peripheral device in the electronic apparatus, andthe controller controls to output electronic device outputs the externalinput signal received from the at least one selected peripheral devicebased on the external input switch command, and controls to transmittransmits, to the replay apparatus, information regarding the externalindicating that an input switch that was performed in the electronicapparatus to the relay apparatus device in order to turn on the power ofthe at least one selected peripheral device through the relay apparatus.8. The electronic apparatus system of claim 7, wherein the relayapparatus generates a the second control signal for turning that turnson the power of the at least oneselected peripheral device based on theinformation regarding on the plurality of peripheral devices and theinformation regarding indicating that the external input switch wasperformed in the electronic device, and transmits the control signal tothe at least one selected peripheral device.
 9. A control method of anelectronic apparatus that controls at least one a system for controllinga plurality of peripheral device by using a relay devices via a relayapparatus, the control method comprising: storing information regardinga plurality of peripheral devices connected to an interface; receiving acontrol signal for controlling the electronic apparatus; after thecontrol signal is received, performing an operation based on the controlsignal; determining the at least one peripheral device, to be controlledaccording to the performed operation, among the plurality of peripheraldevices based on the information regarding the plurality of peripheraldevices; and transmitting information regarding the performed operationand information regarding the at least one peripheral device to therelay apparatus, wherein the relay apparatus determines an operation tobe performed by the at least one peripheral device according to theperformed operation based on the information regarding the performedoperation, generates a control signal for controlling the at least oneperipheral device to perform the determined operation based on theinformation regarding the at least one peripheral device, and transmitsthe generated control signal to the at least one peripheral devicestoring, on an electronic device, information regarding the plurality ofperipheral devices connected to an interface of the electronic device;upon receiving a first control signal, determining, by the electronicdevice, which peripheral device is selected from the plurality ofperipheral devices, based on the first control signal and informationregarding the selected peripheral device; providing, by the electronicdevice, the information regarding the first control signal and theinformation regarding the selected peripheral device, to the relayapparatus; determining, by the relay apparatus, an operation to beperformed by the selected peripheral device, based on informationregarding an operation of the electronic device according to the firstcontrol signal; generating, by the relay apparatus, a second controlsignal that controls the selected peripheral device based on theinformation regarding the selected peripheral device and the informationregarding the first control signal; and transmitting, by the relayapparatus, the second control signal to the selected peripheral device.10. The control method of claim 9, wherein the electronic apparatusdevice comprises at least one connector a plurality of connectors thatis are connected to the at least one plurality of peripheral devicedevices.
 11. The control method of claim 10, further comprising:storing, by the electronic device, information regarding on the at leastone plurality of peripheral device matched with the at least oneconnector devices connected to the plurality of connectors, wherein,when based on the first control signal is received, the transmittingproviding information comprises, determining a connector to which the atleast one selected peripheral device is connected; andtransmittingproviding the information regarding the at least oneon theselected peripheral device matched withconnected to the connector towhich the at least oneselected peripheral device is connected to therelay apparatus.
 12. The control method of claim 9, wherein theinformation regarding on the plurality of peripheral devices comprisesat least one of a brand name, a model name, and a product serial numberof the at least one plurality of peripheral device devices.
 13. Thecontrol method of claim 9, wherein the first control signal comprises apower off command for turning off the power of the electronic apparatusdevice, the performing an operation comprises turning off the power ofthe electronic apparatus based on the power off command, and thetransmitting information the second control signal comprisestransmitting information regarding the, to the relay apparatus, thesecond control signal indicating that the electronic device is toperform a power off operation that was performed in the electronicapparatus to the relay apparatus in response to the power off command inorder to turn off the power of the at least one selected peripheraldevice through the relay apparatus.
 14. The control method of claim 13,wherein the relay apparatus generates a the second control signal forthat controls turning off the power of the at least one selectedperipheral device based on the information regarding the at least one onthe selected peripheral device and the information regarding indicatingthat the electronic device is to perform the power off operation, andthus, the relay apparatus transmits the second control signal to the atleast one peripheral device.
 15. The control method of claim 9, whereinthe control signal comprises an external input switch command fordisplaying an external input signal received from the at least oneselected peripheral device in the electronic apparatus, wherein thecontrol method further comprises: the performing operation comprisesoutputting the external input signal being input from the at least oneselected peripheral device based on the external input switch command,and the transmitting information comprises transmitting, to the relayapparatus, information regarding the external indicating that an inputswitch that was performed in the electronic apparatus to the relayapparatus device in order to turn on the power of the at least oneselected peripheral device through the relay apparatus.
 16. The controlmethod of claim 15, wherein the relay apparatus generates a thirdcontrol signal for turning on the power of the at least one selectedperipheral device based on the information regarding the at least one onthe selected peripheral device and the information regarding on theexternal input switch, and thus, the relay apparatus transmits the thirdcontrol signal to the at least one selected peripheral device.
 17. Asystem comprising: a relay apparatus; a storage which stores informationregarding a plurality of peripheral devices connected to an interface;and an electronic apparatus that controls a peripheral device by usingthe relay apparatus, wherein, when a control signal for controlling theelectronic apparatus is received, the electronic apparatus performs anoperation based on the control signal, determines at least oneperipheral device, to be controlled according to the performedoperation, among the plurality of peripheral devices based on theinformation regarding the plurality of peripheral devices, and transmitsinformation regarding the performed operation and information regardingthe peripheral device to the relay apparatus, wherein the relayapparatus determines an operation to be performed by the at least oneperipheral device according to the performed operation based on theinformation regarding the performed operation, generates a controlsignal for controlling the at least one peripheral device to perform thedetermined operation based on the information regarding the at least oneperipheral device, and transmits the generated control signal to the atleast one peripheral device.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein when acontrol signal for turning off power of the electronic apparatus isreceived, the electronic apparatus turns off its own power, andtransmits information regarding the power off operation that wasperformed in the electronic apparatus to the relay apparatus, and therelay apparatus generates a control signal for turning off power of theat least one peripheral device based on the information regarding theplurality of peripheral devices, and transmits the control signal to theat least one peripheral device.
 19. A relay apparatus for controlling anelectronic apparatus and at least one peripheral device, the relayapparatus comprising: a communication unit which receives informationabout an operation performed in the electronic apparatus and informationregarding a plurality of peripheral devices; a storage which storescontrol codes to control each of the plurality of peripheral devices; acontroller which determines an operation to be performed by the at leastone peripheral device according to the performed operation based on theinformation regarding the performed operation, and generates a controlsignal for controlling the at least one peripheral device to perform thedetermined operation based on the information regarding the at least oneperipheral device, and a transmitter which transmits the generatedcontrol signal to the at least one peripheral device, wherein theelectronic apparatus stores information regarding the plurality ofperipheral devices and determines the at least one peripheral device, tobe controlled according to the performed operation, among the pluralityof peripheral devices based on the information regarding the pluralityof peripheral devices.
 20. The relay apparatus of claim 19, wherein theoperation performed in the electronic apparatus is at least one of apower-on operation, a power-off operation, and an external input switchoperation.
 21. The relay apparatus of claim 19, wherein the informationregarding the at least one peripheral device is at least one of a brandname, a model name, and a product serial number.